Chapter 1225 How to face the future

Li Xiangqian sighed deeply, and an indescribable complex emotion surged in his heart. He Yuzhu's loss was not simply due to ignorance or laziness, but came from a deep period of self-denial, and he could not accept his own failures and imperfections. He realized that the friend he saw who was self-pitying and doing nothing was actually a soul trapped in self-doubt because of unmet expectations.

Li Xiangqian walked back to the yard and his eyes fell on He Yuzhu. He was still standing there, his expression still dazed, as if he was unaware of everything around him. He didn't seem to notice Li Xiangqian's changes, nor did he notice the items he took out of the wooden box.

"Yu Zhu." Li Xiangqian spoke again. This time, his voice was more resolute than before. "You know what? I finally understand what you are afraid of."

He Yuzhu's body trembled slightly, and he raised his head, his eyes full of doubt. He did not ask Li Xiangqian why he said that, nor did he refute him, but just looked at him quietly, as if waiting for Li Xiangqian's next words.

"You have been avoiding the past, avoiding the self who was once full of ideals and hopes." Li Xiangqian's tone was calm, but it revealed an unspeakable pain. "You are afraid to face those unfulfilled dreams, afraid to face your past failures and shortcomings. But, Yuzhu, you have to understand that failure does not mean the end of everything. You cannot change the mistakes of the past, but you can decide how to face the future."

He Yuzhu's eyes flickered slightly, as if he was touched by Li Xiangqian's words. His lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

"You know what?" Li Xiangqian continued, "I always thought you were just lost, until I read your diary, I realized that you were not only lost, but also lost yourself. You have been running away, running away from the you who used to be, running away from the you who was full of dreams and enthusiasm. You dare not face the goals you once had, afraid that they will become obstacles that you cannot overcome."

He Yuzhu's eyes finally flickered with a wave. He lowered his head and grasped his sleeves tightly with both hands, as if he was enduring some kind of strong inner conflict. Li Xiangqian looked at him, and a painful emotion surged in his heart. All this was too complicated and too heavy, even far beyond what he could bear.

"Yuzhu, facing the past does not mean giving up on the future." Li Xiangqian stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder gently. "You don't need to be afraid of your past self, because that past self will still be in your heart, guiding you on the way forward. You just need to have the courage to face it and stand up again. The dreams you once had will not disappear just because you failed. You will always have the opportunity to realize them, as long as you are willing to go for it."

He Yuzhu raised his head, a complex emotion in his eyes. His lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but hesitated. Li Xiangqian knew that He Yuzhu's heart was still full of struggle, still oppressed by the heavy past.

However, Li Xiangqian did not intend to give up. He knew that real help was not to solve all the problems at once, but to lead He Yuzhu out of the haze step by step and let him find his own way again.

The sun was still shining brightly in the yard, but He Yuzhu seemed to be as depressed as a dark cloud. Li Xiangqian stood beside him, his eyes firm, but he was not in a hurry to continue speaking. He knew that what He Yuzhu needed at this moment was not more persuasion, but real companionship.

"You know, I always thought you were simply lost." Li Xiangqian whispered, his tone calm but with a firmness that could not be ignored. "But now I understand that you are lost not because you don't have a goal, but because you are afraid that you can't achieve that goal. You have been avoiding, avoiding failure, avoiding the image of yourself that is no longer perfect."

He Yuzhu was silent for a long time, and didn't seem to react much to Li Xiangqian's words. His eyes were still wandering, as if he was thinking about something, or avoiding something. Li Xiangqian felt his struggle and powerlessness, and the barrier that could not touch his heart was still like an invisible wall, covering He Yuzhu.

Li Xiangqian sighed, walked up to him, and patted his shoulder gently: "Yuzhu, you know what? You are not alone. You feel confused, scared, and even a little overwhelmed now. But this does not mean that you are destined to stay in this place for the rest of your life. You have a past and a future. The past you may make you feel inferior, but the future you has infinite possibilities."

He Yuzhu's hands were clenched tightly in his trouser pockets, his lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but swallowed it back. Li Xiangqian could see his inner struggle, the emotions and pain that he was unwilling to express easily.

"I know you are afraid." Li Xiangqian's tone was gentle, but it revealed an unshakable determination. "You are afraid of facing the past, afraid of falling again, and afraid that your dreams will never come true. You are afraid of failure, but I dare say that what you are really afraid of is not failure, but the feeling of powerlessness and disappointment when facing your unfulfilled dreams."

He Yuzhu's eyes were still erratic, but he finally spoke: "I don't want to fail again, move forward." His voice was low, as if squeezed out of his throat, with a hint of hoarseness and fatigue, "I don't know what I have left. I don't see any reason for me to stand up again."

Li Xiangqian was silent for a moment, then slowly sat down on the stone bench next to He Yuzhu, gently patted the seat next to him, and motioned him to sit down as well. He Yuzhu hesitated for a moment, but finally sat down. The two sat side by side, and everything in the yard seemed to become quiet, with only the occasional bird calls from afar breaking the tranquility.

"I've had moments like this before." Li Xiangqian finally spoke, his voice carrying a hint of warmth from memories. "I've also felt that I couldn't go on, that I didn't have the strength to face any challenges in the future. But you know what? It was at that time that I really understood that life is not a perfect sprint, but countless falls and rises. I always thought I had to do my best from the beginning, but then I found out that no one can be perfect from the beginning. Every failure is an opportunity to grow."

He Yuzhu lowered his head and listened to Li Xiangqian's words in silence. There was still not much fluctuation in his eyes, as if he was wrapped in silence. But Li Xiangqian knew that some subtle changes were quietly taking place in He Yuzhu's heart.